BecomingGolden

Written by Brownie Ebal and Nakiyimba Victoria.

A crowd of over 500 people gathered at the Kampala Serena Hotel Victoria Ball room for a night of inspiration hosted by Pepe Minambo on 26th February 2025.

In any pursuit of success, strategy is key, but execution is what truly determines the outcome. At An Evening of Inspiration, Pepe Minambo shared powerful insights on how to bridge the gap between planning and achievement. Using a striking analogy, he reminded the audience: “A cat that dreams to be a lion must lose its appetite for rats.” This was a call to abandon small distractions and focus on the bigger picture.

One of the key reasons strategies fail is the lack of a clear vision. A plan without a defined purpose quickly loses direction. Even with a strong vision, ineffective processes, poor communication, and lack of commitment can hinder execution. Many organisations struggle because employees do not fully buy into the strategy, leading to loss of momentum and, ultimately, failure. Execution is not just about setting goals; it requires sustained recognition, motivation, and clear direction as highlighted by Dr. Fabian Kasi, Managing Director, Centenary Bank. He also stated that for one to execute their strategy, there are hard decisions that need to be made. These include firing the people who are not fit for the job and hiring a more
competent and dedicated team.

Proscovia Nabbanja, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda National Oil Company, stated that to develop winning strategies, it is essential to set clear milestones and celebrate small wins along the way. Achieving long-term success requires balancing stretch goals—ambitious targets that push growth—with normal targets that ensure steady progress. Communication plays a vital role in execution, and for any strategy to succeed, information must flow freely both upwards and downwards within an organization.

She stated that at UNOC, the vision is understood from the cleaners to the CEO. the receptionist should be able to clearly explain the vision of the company to all the clients that walk into the company. She believes that when employees understand the bigger picture and their role within it, engagement and productivity improve. Additionally, leveraging productivity tools can make execution smoother and more efficient.

Jonathan V. Cuevas emphasised the importance of using technology, such as AI assistants, to optimize work processes and stay on track. He highlighted that the reality of workplace engagement today is concerning where studies show that only 23% of employees are thriving at work, while 59% are quietly quitting—showing up but lacking motivation and involvement. Even more alarming, 18% are actively disengaged, openly dissatisfied and unproductive. He stated that to shift disengaged employees toward engagement, organisations must first measure engagement levels regularly. Furthermore, open discussions should be encouraged to understand the barriers holding employees back. When people feel heard, valued, and are given opportunities to contribute meaningfully, their commitment to execution increases. Therefore, as CEO’s or management in a company, we should endeavor to engage our employees and ensure that they feel heard and are valued.

Well renowned inspirational speaker, Robert Burale, stated that for one to ably execute their goals, they should have 4 people in their corner. The coach, mentor, sponsor and pace setter. The coach will provide guidance, support, and feedback on your improvement journey, the mentor is someone you admire, who has walked the same journey as you and who will use their experience and skills to guide and inspire you, the sponsor will speak your name in rooms, you have will not have access to and will actively advocate for and support your advancement and growth, and finally; the pace setter will set the high standards for you to follow so you can be able to achieve your targets and surpass them.

In a nutshell, the conversation underscored that strategy without execution is meaningless. Success in 2025 will not come from merely setting goals but from actively working towards them, ensuring alignment, accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement. For those looking to turn their plans into tangible results, it is time to refine execution—because in the end, it is not just about having the right strategy, but about getting the right things done.

For more information; kindly subscribe to Pepe Minambo’s You tube channel for more inspiring content: https://www.youtube.com/@pepeminambotv1207